Introducing Raija Salomaa and the Limerick Fabric Line!

Hi, I’m Toni Raynolds! Owner and founder of PiecedPerfection, your gateway to quilting excellence! You can learn more about me and what we do by visiting my website lovepiecedperfection.com where you can preview our classes, workshops, and product offering.

Today, though, is extraordinary because if you haven’t met her before, I have the privilege of introducing you to a fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor, Raija Salomaa of Quilters' Treasure Chest!

Raija is not only a friend of mine but also a gifted pattern designer who is celebrating the launch of her first Signature fabric collection produced by Island Batik called Limerick. I am thankful that I know Raija and have the opportunity to participate in her Blog Hop celebrating this special moment. This allowed me to obtain a sneak peak of these fabrics and make a project showcasing this gorgeous fabric line.

I’m going to break this down into four parts:

1. Up Close and personal with Raija Salomaa

2. A review of her Signature fabric collection, Limerick, by Island Batik

3. My Project showcasing these fabrics and highlights of the piecing and quilting process.

4. GIVEAWAYS! Stay tuned until the end and learn how to win this gorgeous fabric line!

Plus, I am going to be sharing two new products I took for a test drive while making this quilt. So read on to learn how well they worked and if they might be worth adding to your toolkit!

Meet Raija:

I met Raija shortly after becoming a Certified Instructor and was immediately impressed! She is down to earth, friendly, and engaging. She is an incredibly talented pattern designer and super smart! I could talk ‘shop’ with her all day… quilt talk that is! She has a brilliant mind and is very creative. More importantly she has been so supportive and encouraging to me as I pursue my passion for quilting and sharing that gift with others. I can say all of this but the proof is in the pudding! Look at these patterns Raija just released with her new signature fabric line:

Aren’t these incredible?! Some of the techniques and approaches found in Raija’s patterns are her own unique inventions. For example, the pattern called Dancing Albertina, features a technique that uses a floating corner beam block that is a technique she created. She has also come up with new approaches to improving accuracy and saving fabric when using your studio 180 Design tools. It’s hard to believe you can improve upon an already good thing, but Raija did it! And guess what, the only way to learn Raija’s techniques is by making her patterns, which all have clear instructions, and have brightly colored pictures, and step by step visual guides. Her approach and style truly are amazing! So please be sure to stop by and visit her Facebook page, say hello, let her know I sent you and please follow her! You won’t be disappointed and will be glad you did!

THE LIMERICK FABRIC LINE:

This fabric line is simply gorgeous. I was blown away by the stunning beauty of these fabrics when I first received them. This Signature fabric collection truly reflects the quality and brilliance Raija brings to everything she does, whether it’s teaching on a cruise ship or creating quilt patterns. I could not wait to dive in and bring these gorgeous fabrics to life in a quilt project!

Greens:

Green is my favorite color, and this fabric line boasts five beautiful shades from lights to darks.

Purples / Blues:

Purples paired with equally gorgeous blues; the collection offers a rich color palette. The four blues, with a hint of green, add versatility to this harmonious color arrangement.

Turquoise:

And let's not forget the beautiful turquoise prints!

The collection has a cohesive flow with its rich colors and varied motifs, providing so many options for color placement in your quilts. From dots to mottled, paisley, and Celtic-like motifs, this fabric line is aptly named "Limerick."

Choosing favorites from this collection was a tough task, given the wide selection. However, the Celtic motif fabrics with their rich blend of colors are a definite standout.

So, let’s take a look at the quilt I made using this gorgeous fabric line.

MY PROJECT: JEWELS OF THE TRADE

Inspired by the vibrant Limerick fabric line, I decided to bring Raija's 'Jewels of the Trade' pattern to life with these gorgeous fabrics. This pattern not only showcases the brilliance of Raija’s pattern designs, but it also equally highlights the beauty of the Limerick fabric line.

There were so many gorgeous fabrics to choose from that I could not decide, so, I opted to go scrappy. The quilt came together effortlessly! Raija’s clear instructions and the use of Studio 180 Design’s tools made the process smooth.

I was also more thankful than usual for my Studio 180 Design tools including the Corner Beam, V Block, and Tucker Trimmer. Because I was making a baby sized quilt, the units were small but these tools made piecing the units with precision a breeze!

I also had recently purchased a few new tools at a quilt shop. So, I decided to give them a try and I am glad I did! One is this tool by Quilted Heartz. This tool made ironing my binding strip so easy, and I didn’t burn my hand for once! I highly recommend! I will need to add to my store in the future.

The Second is this Binding Wheel that you roll your binding strip on to keep it organized and out of the way while sewing it onto your quilt. This tool worked well too, which is good thing because for once I didn’t accidentally roll my chair over my binding strip that accidentally dropped to the floor!

The other thing I was really happy about when making this quilt was the decision to make a scrappy border with my remaining Limerick fabrics. I ALWAYS use Doug Leiko’s Folder Corner Ruler when making my binding strips and when sewing my joins together. This tool has been a godsend for having perfectly aligned edges and it simplifies the joining process. Let me know in the comments if you would be interested in a tutorial on how I use this tool to create and join my binding strips.

Quilting this piece was equally enjoyable. I chose to custom quilt this using designs to highlight the shapes in the quilt.

I truly love this pattern and I am so glad that I was able to make this using Raija’s first signature collection line from Island batik. I am happy with the results and hope to share the joy of making this quilt with all of you in an upcoming class! So, stay tuned!!!

This quilt is also like Raija’s newly released pattern, Treasures of St Lucia, that she designed in conjunction with the release of the Limerick fabric line. Had this one been available when making my project, it would have been tough to choose between Jewels of the trade or Treasures of St. Lucia. Both are equally beautiful quilt patterns!

WIN THIS FABULOUS FABRIC LINE!

Now, the exciting part – giveaways! If you love this fabric line as much as I do, join the blog hop for a chance to win:

· 1st Prize: Limerick Fat Quarter Bundle featuring all 20 fabrics! (Winner must reside in the continental US)

· 2nd Prize: Choice of 4 downloadable Quilters' Treasure Chest patterns featuring the Limerick fabric line.

· 3rd Prize: Choice of 1 downloadable Quilter’s Treasure Chest pattern featuring the Limerick fabric line.

Winners will be selected randomly from eligible participants on February 9th, 2024. To be eligible, follow the steps outlined below:

Visit and comment on each blog hop post (see the lineup and links below).
Follow each blogger’s website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Follow Island Batik on Facebook and Instagram.
Share the blog hop on your Facebook and/or Instagram page, inviting others to join the fun.

Thank you for following along, reading our blogs, and supporting this fantastic new fabric line! Good luck, and I hope you win!

Connect and follow me now at PiecedPefection:

- Website: lovepiecedperfection.com

- Facebook: @lovepiecedperfection

- Instagram: @lovepiecedperfection

- Youtube: @Quilters911

The Blog Hop Line Up:

· Tuesday, 1/16/24 Raija Salomaa of Quilters' Treasure Chest and Dona McKenzie of DonaMcKenzie.com (shared Blog)